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November 9, 2010

Don't Call Me Junior! - Lady Indiana Jones Costume

The night before Long Beach Comic Con I decided I wanted to cosplay Indiana Jones. I did a really quick version of the costume for Halloween in 2009, and by quick, I mean I put it together in 30 minutes before I left for work in the morning. It was fun and more importantly, it's comfortable. I took a little more time with this version. If you are looking for something quick without 100% accuracy, Indy is a good choice.

When you're going for an approximation rather than an exact replica, think of the pieces that make the costume recognizable. For Indiana Jones, I think of the hat, whip,* and shoulder bag. Even though my shirt and pants aren't close to the right cut or colors, most people recognized the costume right away. Here's where I got everything:

Hat and whip - Costume set from Party City, $16.99. I'd actually planned to drive to Disneyland to get a replica hat (they sell them because of the Indiana Jones ride), but they sadly closed early the night I needed to go.Shirt - In my closet, purchased from TargetPants - In my closet, purchased from Charlotte Russe (I think)Belt - Van Nuys Army Navy Surplus store, $9.99Shoulder bag - The same surplus store, $16.99. It has a cloth strap, but I just tucked that it and replaced it with leather.Holster - I've had for a pirate costume for a long time.Shoes - Just brown boots with 1" heels (yeah, even 1" heels on concrete all day ended badly. You'd think I would know better).Props - It's not pictured, but I did carry around my version of a Holy Grail. It actually looked more like one of the fake grails, but it still got the point across.

Planned Improvements

- A shirt that is the right color and style.

- A holster that at least is the right color as the one Indy wears.

- A nicer hat. This one is servicable, but I would love to own a better quality replica.

If you have time and want to go the more accurate route, I highly recommend visiting Indy Gear. This site has details about every piece of Indy's costume and the key props from all four movies. Better yet, the site has a beautiful list of quality vendors that will make you look so much like Indy that the senior Dr. Jones will be calling you Junior.

*Safety note:If you don't know how to use a whip, don't try it for the first time in public. Or around breakables.